New to this with a few questions

shane&vanessa · 22-11-2009, 16:18

Hi Guys.

First off forgive me if I'm not totally easy to understand, I suffer from M.E and have a stinking cold at present so worse for wear plus a first time poster

Been looking at American motorhomes for a while, American as we felt we needed the space what with a 5 month old girl, a 2 and a half year old boy, a staffy dog along with me and the wife, plus looking at living in for 6 months or more.

So we brought a little starter 40ft tag axle Winnebago Superchief DXL 7.5 460CI V8!! lol!!

So got it home and squeezed into our drive somehow, hired two mechanics in to give it a good service, Inc diff oils, trans oils, engine oil, plugs, leads, K&N induction etc etc etc two days later and £800.00 gone time ran out and I'm left with questions and concerns as I have young kids and safety is paramount!!

not sure how to upload photos here, but my LPG (heating) tank connection is nothing like what is at the service stations plus I have another connection which I guess is to attach the large upright bottle? back to the tank connection, its a screw on connection not a push and twist like the LPG that runs engine, can these be converted by a simply screw on connection?

In fact does anybody here know anyone in North Lincolnshire / Humberside that is mobile to come and check LPG system is 100% safe, obviously we really need working heating and hot water? I don't even know if the LPG produces the hot water lol!!.

I do have a ONAN 6500 GENE so I could run electric portable heaters but Mechanic states the wires going from the gene to body above is rotten so can't even test that, I do know it cranks as I accidently pressed the button on side of bed for a split second, So also need an auto electrics person or someone that services generators

I've so many little silly questions too, like
1.how do I empty tanks safely and correctly?
2. do I have the grey, black, etc tanks (I think I do?? I have what looks like three big tanks, I know the fresh water is 100 gallon)
3. Do I add chemicals to the pooh/wee Tank
4. Do I have to light the pilot light with matches or is it auto, if I had gas in the bloody tank lol!!
5. Why did Sony design there stupid reversing camera with a wierd small 4 pin connection, monitor just shows a grey screen when I hit reverse so figure its knackered NOT GREAT when you have a 40 footer with side isle and no back window anyway!
6 etc etc

I've googled but see so many different things I don't know whats right or wrong, is there a camper bible so to speak? is there anybody bored at weekends that fancy coming down to my village to guide me through a few things over a brew or two??

Oh better add that the Winne was registered new in the UK in 1991 so was converted to UK electrics etc hence why I wonder about the LPG

its now at only 23,000 miles spent most its life in Spain sited and sat for the last three years in Norfolk as a perma live in, which I find remarkable as its truely like new inside and all original.

I've tried e-mailing previous keeper, but I think he struggles to read as his replys don't make sence and he only brought it as a house and really knew nothing about it, Inc what its worth, he didn't know it had air-ride, didn't know that the high beam light switch was on the floor operated by foot, didn't know it had hydralic levelling jacks, didn't know it has a built in vacum cleaning system throughout, thought the gas bottle connection was for a BBQ, failed to advertise it had a massive self seeking satalite dish worth a few £££ no doubt, or that the RV is built on a bomb proof military Oshkosh chassis. So I'm really at a loss here lol!!

Truely grateful for any assistance peeps, like I said no previous experiance here, just sold my Dodge Charger to finance it and about to sell our TDi Golf to hopefully be able to paint RV and upgrade a few bits and bobs

shane&vanessa · 22-11-2009, 16:30

photos of LPG TANK

Johns_Cross_Motorhomes · 22-11-2009, 16:41

Hi and welcome to Fun, I am sure that there will be many knowledgable Funsters who know a lot more about Winnies than I do.

One point I would make, if its been sitting for three years, I trust you have had the tyres thoroughly checked for cracks in the sidewalls.

Good luck

Peter

muz · 22-11-2009, 16:58

hi and welcome,sounds like you need to be intoduced to duncan,starspangledspannerman,he is your man and i think he has moved to lincoln just a short while ago,he is a very nice and very knowlegable on rv,s his number is in my rv so i will go monday and fetch it unless one of the funsters know it? i have fibromyalgia and i am told its the same condition as your ME,you will soon be hearing from alot of funsters.cheers MUZ

ehuplad · 22-11-2009, 17:06

Your LPG just needs an adapter to allow it to be filled with the uk pumps.

See this link i think this is the one you require

1 3 4 ACME to UK Dutch Bayonet

ScotJimland · 22-11-2009, 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by muz

hi and welcome,sounds like you need to be intoduced to duncan,starspangledspannerman,he is your man and i think he has moved to lincoln just a short while ago,he is a very nice and very knowlegable on rv,s his number is in my rv so i will go monday and fetch it unless one of the funsters know it? i have fibromyalgia and i am told its the same condition as your ME,you will soon be hearing from alot of funsters.cheers MUZ

Good idea, Dunc is the man to help .. he is a member on Fun ..

RV Spares, Accessories, Parts and Servicing - Star Spangled Spanner

DESCO · 22-11-2009, 17:18

Hi shane&vanessa

WELCOME to MH Fun

Just popped in to say hi, see the lads with the knowledge are looking after you.

Best of luck with your new venture.

Dave

lebesset · 22-11-2009, 17:18

hope you have a heavy goods licence to drive it , can't believe it is not over 7.5 tonnes !

you can get adaptors to fill the lpg tank , in europe that size has a left hand thread if I remember correctly ...it is a while since I have had an american motorhome and can't remember whether it has a right hand thread so be careful which you get ; anyhow unless you intend to go abroad the adaptor to the dutch system as used in the uk will be enough

Tinley Tech LPG Conversions - Travelling abroad - filler adapters.

I presume your mechanics had a good look at the tyres , but when you are out pop into a tyre dealer that specialises in truck tyres and get them to have a look ; also see if they stock the tyre size , many american motorhomes use sizes not available in europe

and you are correct , the device is a regulator which screws into a uk calor gas propane cylinder , presumably it is connected into the system when the tank is empty ; does this vehicle have an lpg conversion to run on instead of petrol ? otherwise you are in for some pretty hefty petrol bills